Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday a final decision on the various issues related to the Polavaram Project would be taken at a meeting with officials and experts of the Centre and the State to be held within a week.
Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Y.S. Chowdary along with two MPs, Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) and Nimmala Kristappa, and BJP MLA Satyanaryana met Mr Gadkari to discuss the project issues in New Delhi
Talking to the media after meeting his Cabinet colleague, Mr. Chowdary said Mr. Gadkari assured him that all problems would be resolved at that meeting.
Mr. Chowdary said Mr. Gadkari was very clear about the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Package (R&R) for those disturbed by the project. The package was included in the Irrigation component. The Union government would pay 100% of the expenditure for the irrigation component. It would however not be pay for the power house which did not come under the component, Mr. Chowdary told the media.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu recently wrote to Mr. Gadkari asking him to reduce the grade of the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) CEO post as it was difficult to get an officer of such a high cadre. This was the latest issue added to the longish list pending with the Centre. The release of ₹2,000 crore due to the State was yet another sticky issue.
